She didn't know what to expect. All those days waiting to finally go home. She was starting to believe there was no life outside the hospital walls. But, she knew that wasn't true the moment that car pulled up to the house. The same house that she called home for so long. She was so distracted by all the smiling faces around her and the balloons, she didn't even see the ramp at first. She wanted to get up and run inside as she waited for Jess to get her chair from the trunk. She felt a tear fall from her face as Jess lifted her out of the car and placed her in the chair. "Welcome home Ror." He whispered in her ear before he stood back up. She just looked at all the friends and family standing around her. She saw Sookie and Jackson. They had clearly fake smiles on their faces. It looked like a smile you would give if someone had a gun to your head and they would shoot it if you did not smile. Luke was holding her mother up. Since the accident they had become super close. She was glad her mother had someone to hold her up. She saw her grandparents they had tears in their eyes. They probably were disappointed that this was their granddaughter now the crimple in the wheelchair. She felt like she was going to fall out of that chair when she saw her father. He just smiled and waved. He wasn't processing everything. She knew that was how he coped with pain. Her neighbors filled the yard. Standing in Babette's yard she saw Dean and Kyle. Keeping their distance from the mob. Maybe their guilt brought them here she probably would never know. She just reached out for Jess's hand. She was looking for guidance and she knew he could tell that. He just nodded to her. It seems silly in a way. That all she needed was that small gesture. He was never good with words, but she knew he was speaking to her without words. He was telling her: go ahead, you got this, I am right here. She pulled away from him, placed her hands on those wheels, and started wheeling herself forward. Just for the simple fact there was no way to go expect for forward.
She was finally home. Her little girl was finally back home. She would go to sleep tonight in her own bed. Nothing could have felt better. She was thankful to their friends for the gathering. Watching Rory wheel her way up the walk was hard. It was harder to except this new reality with her here. In the hospital she felt like there was still a chance. There was still a miracle waiting for them. But, here it felt permanent for the first time. "Thank you everyone for coming out. I just want to rest right now. I hope you understand." Rory said simply as she looked around the yard.
"You sure? Lane will be here soon. Her flight landed about an hour ago." Lorelai replied as she looked at her daughter. She knew it was hard that her best friend was in Korea. But, no part about this wasn't hard.
"It's just a lot to take in." Rory said as she looked at the ramp in front of her. "Just tell her to call me." She replied before she made her way up the ramp. Everyone just watched as she opened the door. She was just gone like that.
Before she had time to process anything Jess just looked at her with his sad eyes. "She's alive. That's enough for me." He said before he followed her into the house.
It was weird being back, another summer in Korea was just what she needed to get over the sense of abandonment that she was feeling. However, coming home to a town square full of tulle and flowers. Then her mother's eyes told her something wrong. Then the words. Those words never came from her mother. "You need to go talk to Lorelai." It was almost as if the planet had completely turned upside down.
When she walked up to the house it was almost like she could feel something was wrong. Then she saw Lorelai and Luke sitting on the front porch. She knew it was all bad.
She had been dreading this day for weeks. The news of the accident spread fast, but it couldn't spread to Korea. Mrs. Kim and her both agreed that they could not tell Lane about it over the phone. Plus, for so long everything was so touch and go. But, seeing her walk up the street made it real and scary. "I was hoping the summer would just never end. Then I would never have to tell this poor girl that her best friend was fighting for her life in the hospital all summer while she was tanning on vacation." Lorelai said as she looked at Luke.
"I don't think tanning is big in Korea." Luke said as he looked at her. She just smiled at him weakly.
"Well, here goes nothing." Lorelai said as she got up. "Lane." She said as she greeted the younger girl with a hug.
The ramp should have told her what was going on. But, maybe she just didn't want to think about the possibilities. Lorelai's face was serious. She never could remember Lorelai looking at her that way. The way she did when she walked her over to the garage. She waited for the news. But, even when the words came out she didn't know what to think. "There was an accident over the summer. Rory is in a wheelchair now."
"No." That was all she could say as she found herself falling to the ground. Lorelai just sat down next to her and held her hand.
Watching her struggle with everything had to be the hardest part. Even his and Luke's best efforts to make everything as comfortable as possible wasn't enough. All she wanted to do was lay in bed. He tried talking to her, but she just sat there. She was alive. That is all that he could think. She was alive.